§ 27-177. Rates.

(a)

A rate shall be charged to the customers of the reclaimed water system in accordance with the following schedule:

(1)

For nonmetered service for tracts of one acre in size or smaller, the monthly charge shall be $29.59.

(2)

For nonmetered service for larger tracts an additional monthly charge of $16.96 per each additional acre, or portion thereof in excess of one acre, shall be added to the fee of $29.59 per month.

(3)

For customers on metered service, the charge shall be $0.83 per 1,000 gallons per month, but in no case shall the charge be less than $29.59 per month.

(4)

A surcharge of twenty-five percent (25%) will be added for service outside the City.

(5)

The customer shall be required to obtain a reclaimed water permit, the charge shall be $25.00 per permit issued. All reclaimed water permits shall be issued by the Reclaimed Water section of the Water Resources Department.

(b)

The term "tract" refers to all lots or portions thereof served by the particular connection regardless of what portion of the lot or lots are actually being irrigated.

(c)

Metered service shall be required where peak demand is expected to exceed either 500 gallons per minute or 25,000 gallons per month. The customer shall be required to pay all costs associated with the purchase and installation of the meter. The POD may waive the requirement for a meter where a suitable alternative method exists for the calculation of the water usage and where the customer agrees to pay the metered rate for the calculated amount of water usage.

(d)

All connections to the reclaimed water system shall be approved by the POD. The total connection charge will consist of the tapping fee for the reclaimed water service and the fee for installing a backflow prevention device on each potable water service serving the same tract.

(1)

All reclaimed water connections smaller than two inches and involving potable water services smaller than two inches will be charged an average, actual cost as determined annually by the POD. Payment of reclaimed water connection charges will be paid in advance at the time service is requested.

(2)

All other reclaimed water connections will be charged actual costs as determined by the POD. An estimate of the actual cost will be paid in advance for those connections involving a reclaimed service or backflow prevention device two inches and larger. Upon completion of the installation, actual charges not to exceed the estimated costs by more than ten percent will be determined, and a refund or additional charge made.

(3)

A surcharge of 25 percent shall be added to the above connection charges for service outside the City.

(4)

The hose connection assemblies shall consist of one hose connection, one lock box and key, and 50 feet of color coded hose with a special cam lock connection.

(5)

The charge for the hose connection assembly as described herein will be $100.00 each plus a $25.00 inspection fee.

(6)

A customer requiring longer hose shall be charged for hose longer than 50 feet at the current rate. All repairs and replacement materials for the assembly shall meet all City standard specifications as contained in the reclaimed water policies and procedures.

(7)

Materials shall be available at the current rate charged by the City's warehouse or authorized City vendors.

(e)

Capital costs are those costs associated with providing trunk and distribution mains from the wastewater treatment facility to the point of delivery, up to, but not including, the connection. Except in areas previously designated by City Council as not being appropriate for capital cost recovery, no customer shall be allowed to connect property to the reclaimed water system unless such customer has volunteered for an assessment and a lien is recorded on such property, or has made payment in full for the share of the capital costs. A schedule which will provide the method for calculating the share of capital costs that each customer must pay shall be established by City Council and approved by resolution. Such schedule may be amended from time to time, as needed, provided that the amended schedule is also adopted by resolution. Any such schedule may include a surcharge to be added for out-of-city customers.

(f)

A customer will not be charged a fee for discontinuing reclaimed water service. Discontinuance shall not relieve the customer of any amounts due or liens imposed for monthly service, connection fees, or capital costs.

(g)

A customer whose service has been discontinued may resume reclaimed water service after paying any past due amounts and a reconnection fee. The reconnection fee shall be equal to the actual cost of reconnection but in no case shall be less than $100.00.

(h)

Where service has been disconnected for a violation of an ordinance or regulation regarding reclaimed water, such service shall not be reconnected until the POD receives adequate assurances and guarantees that such a violation will not recur.

(i)

Reclaimed water service may be provided to other customers through agreements as provided by the City Council.

(Code 1973, § 28-27; Code 1992, § 27-153; Ord. No. 1146-F, §§ 8, 9, 11-30-1989; Ord. No. 2003-F, § 5, 9-27-1990; Ord. No. 201-G, §§ 1, 4, 6, 7, 8-3-1995; Ord. No. 609-G, § 3, 9-18-2003; Ord. No. 683-G, §§ 3, 4, 9-16-2004; Ord. No. 750-G, § 4, 9-15-2005; Ord. No. 790-G, § 3, 9-21-2006; Ord. No. 846-G, § 5, 9-20-2007; Ord. No. 895-G, §§ 4, 5, 9-18-2008; Ord. No. 948-G, §§ 4, 5, 9-17-2009; Ord. No. 994-G, §§ 8, 9, 9-16-2010; Ord. No. 1031-G, §§ 7, 8, 9-22-2011; Ord. No. 44-H, §§ 6, 7, 9-20-2012; Ord. No. 84-H, § 5, 9-19-2013; Ord. No. 132-H, § 4, 9-18-2014; Ord. No. 193-H, § 4, 9-17-2015; Ord. No. 242-H, § 4, 9-22-2016; Ord. No. 314-H, § 1, 12-7-2017; Ord. No. 342-H, § 1, 8-23-2018)

State law reference

User fees authorized, F.S. § 166.201; limitations on rates outside City, F.S. § 180.191.